What do you guys think about this place? You don't have to take the SAT/GMAT to get into any of their programs. What would you think if someone had a degree from this place? Or any other "non-traditional" schools?

3/22/2007 6:33:58 PM

there is a reason that you don't need to take the standard tests to get in - nobody in the business world takes these degrees seriously

3/22/2007 6:38:21 PM

give me your email address, I will go ahead and type up your diploma......

3/22/2007 6:46:47 PM

oh im not going to school there, im just curious

3/22/2007 6:47:17 PM

they have the best football stadium in the world though.

3/22/2007 6:49:59 PM

i think a place like devry gets more respect, but honestly you'd be better off with a community college as far as resume is concerned

3/22/2007 8:01:02 PM

whats different about devry

3/22/2007 8:10:47 PM

i like how they try to trick you into thinking that the university of pheonix might actually exist somewhere, most people don't get the metaphor that it is supposed to make your life rise from the ashes like a pheonix and has absolutely nothing to do with arizona

3/22/2007 10:21:58 PM

I see what they did there!

3/22/2007 10:41:21 PM

First: I've never been to UoP, and don't know anyone from there either.

BUT I asked my boss, who's a high-up in a prominent technology firm what he thought about it, because I want to get an MBA but with a consulting career it'll be hard for me to even take night classes. He said it all depends on the individual, and what they got out of the program. So if you get your piece of paper from UoP and in an interview you're still just a retard then you're screwed. HOWEVER, if you can actually show you pulled something away from the experience then obviously maybe the degree was worth it...

That said - it makes sense for some careers like mine. In consulting (imho) a good manager would be a former consultant or Project Manager himself, who's spent time out there in his employees' shoes. A nights/weekends degree would be good to give him new perspectives on management to augment his prior experience. Some douche with an MBA from State, UNC, or even Harvard just couldn't do the same job as effectively no matter how good a degree he has.

Moral of the story: It could really help you in some situations where degrees in the lower echelons don't matter, but if you're going for big business type jobs and your education is your only selling point get a real degree. Obviously something is better than nothing, but that's just my $0.02.

[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 11:01 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2007 10:59:00 PM

There are plenty of SACS-accredited colleges in our region (and many other colleges have equivalent accrediting entities in their regions) that offer online master's degree programs. For example, East Carolina University offers a number of these programs.

I think nearly all here would rather have a master's degree from ECU than University of Phoenix--but ECU's just one example. Look elsewhere--forget Phoenix, Strayer, and so on.

3/22/2007 11:44:26 PM

^^So you are saying it is a good degree if you have no use for a degree...

I agree that it is much better to get a degree connected to a physically real, and accredited school. There are plenty of non-traditional programs/classes out there, be it through night or online classes. I think you will get more out of the graduate program in most situations when you physically go to class, because classes are so interactive. If that isn't possible find an online program connected with a real school.

3/23/2007 3:27:31 AM

Quote :

"i like how they try to trick you into thinking that the university of pheonix might actually exist somewhere"

isn't there a university of phoenix building off highway 1 between cary and raleigh?

3/23/2007 8:06:04 AM

theres a pretty big campus close to where i live in maryland.

3/23/2007 8:15:45 AM

They have numerous campuses scattered throughout the country.

3/23/2007 8:20:29 AM

I had a few co-workers who used UoP. None of them seem any better off today than they were before, but they were all working in a professional environment and making $50k+ before they went. I think they did it because as their careers advanced they found that not having a degree was limiting their movement throughout the corporation. All of their expenses would have been paid for by the company.

I think it could be good if you just need to finish an undergrad degree so that you can apply for an MBA, law school, etc. Also, there are still quite a few companies out there who won't consider an applicant without a college degree. In these situations you can be best friends with the hiring manager, but his hands are tied because HR won't let it slide.

I wouldn't really consider it for someone who doesn't have a specific need such as the ones I previously mentioned.

ECU offers a full degree program online. I'd look into that if you want a real degree with some value. I don't know much about it, but I think it would be slightly more valuable than the UoP one.

[Edited on March 23, 2007 at 8:25 AM. Reason : s]

3/23/2007 8:23:44 AM

There is a campus here. My sister goes to UoP online and has an on campus class once a week.

3/23/2007 9:03:01 AM

Personally, I would only go there if I don't get into any other school and if I'm a manager or somebody in hiring position, I wouldn't take a degree from there real seriously.

3/23/2007 9:09:40 AM

My fiancee took some classes there while a grad student at ncsu and was able to transfer them in. They were courses that weren't being offered by NCSU when she needed them. I don't think she was too impressed with the quality.

Quote :

"isn't there a university of phoenix building off highway 1 between cary and raleigh?"

Yea, off of Jones Franklin Rd at the beltline. It's not actually their building, but they have offices in it and a big sign.

[Edited on March 23, 2007 at 9:18 AM. Reason : ?]

3/23/2007 9:16:32 AM

There's no excuse to use that stuff here in the triangle.

You have 3 Universities, and 1 great community college.

3/23/2007 9:20:18 AM

My cousin got her masters in education from UoP. They are stationed in Germany, so it was easier for her to get her masters online. She liked it, but she said if she had been in the States she would have done it differently.

3/23/2007 9:59:04 AM

i don't consider having an office within a larger building having campuses across the country...

3/23/2007 11:25:21 AM

Quote :

"Personally, I would only go there if I don't get into any other school and if I'm a manager or somebody in hiring position, I wouldn't take a degree from there real seriously."

3/23/2007 11:34:38 AM

^^ You're right. "Locations" then.

3/23/2007 12:38:45 PM

Quote :

"i like how they try to trick you into thinking that the university of pheonix might actually exist somewhere, most people don't get the metaphor that it is supposed to make your life rise from the ashes like a pheonix and has absolutely nothing to do with arizona "

you drive by one of their office buildings on US1 in Cary. I think I've seen one in Charleston, WV before as well. I doubt they have any classrooms anywhere though.

3/23/2007 12:43:15 PM

geting a degree outright from UoP will not help you, however, taking certain classes for accrediatation and such is very much similar to going to community college.

3/23/2007 12:46:47 PM

Phoenix is currently home to three major Fortune 1000 companies: electronics corporation Avnet, Apollo Group (which operates the University of Phoenix)...

3/23/2007 1:25:07 PM

Dont do it. The only reason you should do this is if you get to take them for free, which I think you may. If not, it's definitely not worth it. The only time good things can come from it is if you're in a company and that company actually respects it. From my time I worked there it's not worth it. They only want to get people in. Once you're in they really dont give a shit. That's because it's hard as hell to get out. Even if you drop you owe a ton of money. The classes are way too easy. Most of the teachers are not that good. Some know their stuff but alot are a joke. Of course you're going to have professors at other universities that are a joke as well but it's alot more common. If you get a chance, take a class and see how it is. You also have no control over the program. At a normal university you have choices in things you can take besides your required progam, there your program is laid out and you have no choice AT ALL.

I dealt alot with the junior college programs and undergrad. The programs are WAY too easy. So many students had a 4.0 average. Do you really think THAT many students who are working and havent been in school for years are going to come out with a 4.0?

If you're looking toward business they ARE accredited but not in the business program.

Check out http://www.myuopmistake.com. Also did you read the article in the New York Times?

Quote :

"you drive by one of their office buildings on US1 in Cary. I think I've seen one in Charleston, WV before as well. I doubt they have any classrooms anywhere though."

Their classes are in that office building as well. It's not just an office, it's the school.

I have heard better things about Devry. They are still a gamble, but I've heard the quality of education there is better.

3/23/2007 10:12:18 PM

Quote :

" Some douche with an MBA from State, UNC, or even Harvard just couldn't do the same job as effectively no matter how good a degree he has."

unless, of course, that douche went into the field as well for a year or two. then your UoP degree looks like complete shit again.

3/23/2007 10:30:36 PM

i was in Phoenix last spring.

U of Phoenix has a HUGE campus right in Phoenix. it looks like a very large community college. But from what i understand, a large part of their campus is administrative personnel devoted to running their online business.

they also have a satellite campus in every major city. typically its just one building somewhere. you go into it and have a few exams proctored from time to time. or maybe a lab or something.

their degrees are accredited, but that said, i cant imagine any employer who would take a degree from there seriously. you would be better off going to ATT or DeVry. and that aint sayin much. personally i would throw away any resume that listed education from some online university. but then again, i dont hire people as part of my job.

3/24/2007 12:26:57 AM

Quote :

" ECU offers a full degree program online. I'd look into that if you want a real degree with some value. I don't know much about it, but I think it would be slightly more valuable than the UoP one."

Can I get my MD from there online?

^^My point was UoP can be good to help someone make the transition from engineering to management or something. Obviously it won't help out on your resume (as much as a "real" degree) if you're leaping jobs, but say for example I wanted to move from IT consulting to management within the same company... I could MAYBE make it on just my reputation alone, but they would probably want me to get some business fundamentals from somewhere to augment the leadership potential they already saw in me. An online program like UoP would do just that.

And there is a HUGE (probably 10-story) UoP building up here in Madison, WI

3/24/2007 1:29:52 AM

^ just because a building has its name on the outside doesnt mean they fill the inside.

any company might have named the building (BTI, Wachovia, First Union, etc) but they may have only 20% of the space, and tenant out the other 80% to any company who can rent it.

3/24/2007 1:45:13 AM

Quote :

"^ just because a building has its name on the outside doesnt mean they fill the inside. any company might have named the building (BTI, Wachovia, First Union, etc) but they may have only 20% of the space, and tenant out the other 80% to any company who can rent it."

they dont own the building. they lease out space there, at least at the raleigh one and most "campuses". they have most of the 3rd and 5th floors.

[Edited on March 24, 2007 at 2:25 AM. Reason : .]

3/24/2007 2:24:17 AM

yeah, so my roommate has been going to state for two years and has spent a lot of that time on academic probation--his overall gpa is something like 1.8. he tells me the other day that he's decided to drop out of state to go to UoP and work concurrently.

i feel like this is something i should try to talk him out of, but considering that he hasn't been very successful here, i think he might actually be better off doing this. i know they have a bad reputation, but they are actually accredited, and i think a UoP degree is better than nothing--which is what he'll probably end up with if he stays at state...thoughts?

5/6/2007 9:47:34 AM

If he can't manage his schoolwork at state how does he possibly expect to get anything out of an an online "program".

5/6/2007 10:03:16 AM

5/6/2007 10:06:33 AM

he thinks that the flexibility of the online program will help him be more successful, which may be true as far as grades are concerned, but i don't really expect that he will get much out it...he wouldn't be the first person to get a degree but no education

5/6/2007 10:10:49 AM

Quote :

"If he can't manage his schoolwork at state how does he possibly expect to get anything out of an an online "program"."

honestly if he goes there online, all he has to do is be able to post online several times a week.

tell him not to waste his time there. it's a joke.

Quote :

"i feel like this is something i should try to talk him out of, but considering that he hasn't been very successful here, i think he might actually be better off doing this. i know they have a bad reputation, but they are actually accredited, and i think a UoP degree is better than nothing--which is what he'll probably end up with if he stays at state...thoughts?"

some would see it better than nothing, others would not, and it's expensive as hell. if he's looking for an online program there are many out there that would be a better choice.

5/6/2007 11:46:22 AM

one of the problems is that he wants a technically-oriented degree; at UoP the major he's looking at is "information technology"--which i don't know what the coursework is like, but that's the direction he wants to go...

i know that unc-charlotte and nc a&t both have distance technology programs, but they require you to have an AAS beforehand, and i don't know if i could persuade him to go to wake tech for a year

5/6/2007 12:22:32 PM

if you're bored and have money to burn

5/6/2007 12:54:28 PM

i think it all depends on the major. my mom was unable to find a regular teaching job in hawaii, but she was offered a special education job as long as she went for her masters in special ed. she went to the "campus" every friday night and she's now making a little more money with her degree and she's able to easily find jobs wherever they move. i don't think the same could be said for other fields of work though, especially more competitive ones.

5/6/2007 6:24:20 PM